BURY is taking the lead in a new programme to provide better sporting opportunities for disabled people.

The town's Castle Leisure Centre is one of only 30 such centres in the country to take part in the £1.3 million Lottery-funded Inclusive Fitness Initiative.

The scheme is run by the English Federation of Disability Sport. Bury will receive £34,000 to buy specialist equipment, give disability awareness training to 50 staff at the centre, and market the facilities available.

Councillor Steve Perkins, executive member for recreation and sport, said: "This will allow Bury to provide the health and fitness opportunities to ensure that everyone has equal access.

"Although progress has been made to promote disabled people's access to sport, there is still much to do. Barriers remain and while some disabled people are physically very active, the majority still find obstacles to their participation in exercise, or are not aware of the opportunities available to them.

"Hopefully, this initiative will change that. We are part of a national pilot programme and the successes we achieve will be copied across the country."

The new equipment should be installed by the end of July, along with better signage, specialist aids such as hearing loops, and the creation of better links between a range of clubs.

Under the Disability Discrimination Act, all councils have to modify services by 2004 so they can be used by disabled people.

Yvonne Hall, disability sports co-ordinator, said: "While the Castle Leisure Centre exceeds those expectations, we know that more can be done. We now have extra funding and access to specialist knowledge which will allow us to do that.

"Increasingly people of all ages and with varying degrees of disability will be able to train and take part in an ever widening range of sport and fitness events."